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To be honest, it felt like such an anticlimax—but the truth was simple: Kanon Kanase got away.
And really, that was Bokue's mistake. He had forgotten to leave a marker on her.
During the fight, both Kanon Kanase and that black-haired masked angel had only ever shown the ability to fly through the air. Straight lines, visible movement, predictable arcs—easy to chase down.
Even if they flew at top speed, Bokue was confident he could drag them back in under a second.
But disappearing without warning, straight into a teleport? That left him nothing to follow.
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The next day.
The fireworks festival he'd planned with Asagi had gone up in smoke thanks to last night's chaos. So, to make up for it, Bokue spent the late night hours giving the blonde hacker a very different kind of "compensation."
The result? By the time he'd eaten breakfast and was ready to head out the next morning, Asagi was still upstairs in bed, completely wiped out, unable to move.
Not that he had to worry about her skipping breakfast and ruining her stomach—she'd already had her fill last night.
Overflowed. Mission accomplished.
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Meanwhile, at Nagisa Akatsuki's place on the east side of Itogami.
When Bokue teleported into her apartment, the smell of breakfast still lingered in the air. From the open kitchen came the sound of running water and dishes clinking—along with the muffled voice of a girl, excited but trying hard to whisper.
"Ah! Big brother, you're here~"
"Morning, Nagisa..."
Crossing the living room, Bokue stepped into the kitchen and casually swatted her on the rear as she washed the dishes.
"Mmm~!"
Nagisa trembled forward as though jolted by static, her little body shivering as she bit her lower lip, a soft sound escaping her throat.
Bokue froze.
—Wait. Why did that seem so familiar?
Ah. Right—Kuroka.
Back when he lived in the Tokyo apartment, the cat-girl always reacted like this. A playful swat would lead to humming... and straight into "riding practice."
And now Nagisa was doing it too?
When had she learned that? They hadn't even had their "study session" yet—
"Hehe~ Well? How was that, big brother? Pretty convincing, right?" Nagisa tilted her head cutely, smiling wide.
"Here's a tip. Every time Yukina-chan first climbs on, she's shy and stiff—but if you nudge her just a little, she makes this exact face~"
"..."
For God's sake—don't go learning this kind of nonsense!
Bokue dragged a hand down his face.
"...So why are you whispering, anyway? Sore throat?"
"Nope~" Nagisa whispered again, then flicked her eyes toward the front door.
"It's Sayaka-san. Didn't you promise to go with her today to find that missing princess, La Folia? She's been waiting outside by the elevator so she won't miss you."
"??"
Bokue blinked.
Waiting by the elevator?
What, was she planning to jump him with a sneak attack the moment he stepped out? Even if a cheap shot like that could work on him—which it wouldn't—how would they go rescue anyone if he was lying unconscious in a hallway?
Nagisa didn't seem fazed at all. She rinsed off the last dish, stacked it neatly, and then—right in front of him—lifted her skirt and shifted aside a strip of fabric. Looking up at him with a flushed face, she whispered:
"Big brother, go ahead. Don't worry, even if Sayaka-san's right outside, I'll keep quiet~"
"..."
And so from eight o'clock, to eight-thirty... then from eight-thirty, to nine.
By the time the morning sun was blazing through the windows, Sayaka Kirasaka was still crouched irritably by the elevator doors, staring at her phone.
9:01. He's late.
For the thirty-fourth time, she checked the screen, put it away, and fumed.
If they had a mission, punctuality was the bare minimum. Was this guy seriously planning to sleep in until noon?
Figures. Spoiled heir of some onmyoji clan...
Her frustration was ready to boil over when the apartment door finally opened.
Yukina Himeragi stepped out, spotted Sayaka crouched by the elevator, and blinked.
"Sayaka? What are you doing down here? Senpai hasn't shown up yet?"
"Nope! Not a trace!" Sayaka stomped her foot, voice full of irritation. "I've been waiting forever and he hasn't even shown his face! What the hell is he doing??"
"Ah..."
Yukina's lips twitched awkwardly. Sayaka didn't know any better—but Yukina did. Bokue never actually took the elevator.
And if he still hadn't appeared by now... then it probably meant—
"Nggh!!!"
The muffled cry echoed from inside Nagisa's apartment, breaking the hallway's silence.
Both girls froze, then snapped their heads toward the sound in unison.
That was Nagisa's voice.
The building was old, sure, but the walls were thick enough that normal voices never carried through. Only this floor only had two apartments. And ever since Yukina had moved in, they'd left Nagisa's front door unlocked most of the day. Officially, it was for convenience—easier to pop in, check on each other, hang out.
But really? Everyone knew the real reason.
And unlocked doors meant there was nothing to muffle the sounds inside.
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"...Wait. Don't tell me—!"
Sayaka's eyes went wide, an exclamation mark practically flashing over her head. She marched straight to Nagisa's door, threw it open—
And there they were, Bokue and Nagisa, standing barely a meter apart in the open kitchen.
"You—! When did you get here?? I was guarding the elevator and never saw you once!"
Sayaka's voice rose like a police officer catching a wanted fugitive. She even had her holy bow in hand, arrow nocked, ready to fire at point-blank range.
Luckily, Yukina rushed in from behind and grabbed her, forcing the bow down as she hurried toward Nagisa.
"Nagisa, are you okay? We heard your voice just now—"
"I-I'm fine, I'm fine!" Nagisa stammered, cheeks bright pink as she waved her hands quickly. "Big brother just finished helping me wash the dishes. When I came out of the kitchen, I... stubbed my toe on the cabinet."
"...Dishes?" Sayaka frowned.
Breakfast was usually at eight. It was past nine. What kind of "dishes" were they washing this late?
Yukina's eyes dropped toward the floor.
"..."
Right... Dishes.
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